Difluorodiphenylsilane

UsesA moisture insensitive equivalent of diphenyldichlorosilane that is more reactive toward nucleophiles. Source of phenyl group in the Hiyama coupling reaction. More stable to electrophilic aromatic substitution than diphenyldichlorosilane. Eaborn reported that fluorosilanes are more reactive toward organometallic reagents than the corresponding chlorosilanes, and therefore more suited for preparation of sterically hindered organosilanes.

Preparationcommercially available. Readily prepared by oxidation of diphenylsilane with CuF2, or by treatment of diphenyldichlorosilane with HF, ZnF2, NaBF4, or (NH4)2SiF6. Rate enhancements of the chlorine–fluorine exchange have been achieved with ultrasound and addition of water. Diethoxydiphenylsilane and related structures are converted to diphenyldifluorosilane with 48% HF(aq).